Bishop announces pastoral appointments

In consultation with the Clergy Personnel Board, Bishop Michael G. Duca makes the following appointments effective July 1:

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

Father Ryan Hallford, currently pastor of Holy Family Church in Port Allen, has requested a leave of absence from active ministry, and Bishop Duca has granted this request effective
July 1.

PASTOR APPOINTMENTS

Father Joseph Benjamin SSJ, currently pastor of St. Peter the Apostle Church in Pascagoula, Mississippi, is appointed pastor of St. Augustine Church in New Roads. Father Benjamin’s  appointment is effective Oct. 1, and he is replacing Father Patrick Healy SSJ.

ADMINISTRATOR APPOINTMENTS

Father James Singarayar HGN, a priest of the Heralds of the Good News and currently pastor of St. Joseph Church in Lillian, Alabama in the Archdiocese of Mobile, Alabama, is appointed administrator of Holy Family.

Deacon Michael Parker has been appointed parish administrator of Holy Rosary Church in St. Amant, effective June 1 through June 30. Father Matt Lorrain will serve as the canonical priest supervisor of the church parish until he assumes the pastorate July 1.  

PAROCHIAL VICAR APPOINTMENTS

Father Lamar Partin CSsR is appointed parochial vicar of St. John the Evangelist Church in Prairieville.

Father Amalraj Savarimuthu IMS, currently parochial vicar of St. Ann Church in Napoleonville, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Plattenville and St. Philomena Church in Labadieville, is appointed parochial vicar at Holy Ghost Church in Hammond.

Father Hallford, a native of Slidell, was ordained by Bishop Emeritus Robert W. Muench on May 27, 2017 at St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge. 

He has served as parochial vicar at Holy Family and St. Jude the Apostle Church and St. Aloysius Church, both in Baton Rouge; and as chaplain of St.  John Interparochial School in Plaquemine and St. Michael the Archangel Diocesan Regional High School in Baton Rouge. 

Father Hallford has been a member of the Bishop’s Cabinet and also served as secretary of the Evangelization Secretariat.

Father Benjamin is a native of Ijebu, Igbo, Nigeria, and was ordained in his hometown on May 29, 2010.

Father Singarayar is a native of Soosaiyappar Pattanam, where he was also ordained on May 1, 2009.  

Father Savarimuthu is a native of Kerala, India and was ordained at St. Michael Cathedral in Giombatore, India on May 4, 1997.

He has served as parochial vicar at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Maringouin, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Church in Livonia, St. Joseph Church in Grosse Tete, Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Denham Springs and at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, St. Philomena and St. Anne.